Why I've Let These People Stab Me for Almost 20 Years....A short story...
My wife, Mareena, and I are the proud owners of a combined 500+ hours of tattoos created within the walls of Trusted Tattoo and the Body Art Bus. We've both been clients (and friends) for nearly two decades... Fun fact* it's actually where we met. But that's a love story for another time.
Today, I want to tell you exactly what to expect when you pick Trusted Tattoo (or their traveling sibling, Body Art Bus) to be the people you trust to stab an ink-coated needle into your body thousands and millions of times over countless hours, weeks, months, years... and before you know it, decades.
I'm also going to explain why these are the humans I've chosen - and will continue to choose - to spend what can only be described as intimate hostage situations with.
If you've never been tattooed before, you've never experienced this special brand of intimacy: being trapped in a chair with someone you love and simontaneously hate. And maybe somtimes want to kill. And are also probably in close enough proximity with to smell eachothers breath for long extended periods of time... where you can't move, because if you do, your skin pays the price. So, for sake of word count, we'll just call this an "intimate Hostage Situations" or IHS.
The Artists who've kept me coming back (and upright in the chair)?
Joey Chavez, the main mastermind behind both shops, has been tattooing me since 2011. He's the guy behind my full-color sleeve (including a partial cover-up/fix) and my full-color back portrait. Joey is a jack of all trades and if you think it, he can create it!
Jordan Nelson is currently working on my second sleeve in black-and-grey realism, has done portraits on both of my thighs, and - along with Joey - is tag-teaming my right leg.
If you want to see the evolution of Jordan's work, look no further than my wife's bodysuit. Jordan's drive to grow and perfect his craft has always been something I've admired - not just as a client, but as a friend.
Why Trusted Tattoo Is different?
Over the years, Mareena and I have unintentionally become walking billboards for this shop's evolution. Every artist here pushes themselves to the next level, constantly chasing growth. That's the secret ingredient, no matter your style, you'll find someone here who can bring your tattoo vision to life and make it an unforgettable experience. Dont get me wrong, shits' ganna hurt, but you'll like it I promise.
The professionalism is unmatched. As women, Mareena and I dont need to tell you how important feeling safe and comfortable is with your tattoo artist. It's everything, and that's a non-negotiable here. We've brought countless friends and family, and every single one has walked away in love with their tattoo and their experience.
Bottom Line....I promise I'm done after this....
Trusted Tattoo truly lives up to its name. The art is world-class. The people are genuine and real. The experience fun, safe, creative, and sometimes chaotic, but honestly, it's my preferred type of intimate hostage situation. read more